Dr. Nicolson is no longer working here in MD Anderson and now he is in California. Department of Molecular Pathology, The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, California 92647……………………………….
I think we should get tested for Mycoplasma anyway but I don't think it has anything to do with Fibromyalgia. In my case it runs in my family and it behaves more like an inherited disorder it does not behave like an infectious agent. In the case of gulf war syndrome spouses, children, and parents, and sometimes friends get the disease. This pattern is more likely to be caused by an infectious agent. “The presence of systemic mycoplasmal infections in the blood of Gulf War veterans (n=8) and civilians (n=28) with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and age matched controls (n=70) was investigated by detecting mycoplasma gene sequences with forensic Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and back hybridization with a radiolabeled internal oligonucleotide probe. Almost all ALS patients (30/36 or approximately 83%) showed evidence of Mycoplasma species in blood samples, whereas <9% of controls had blood mycoplasmal infections (P<0.001). Using PCR ALS patients with a positive test for any mycoplasmal infection were investigated for the presence of M. fermentans, M. pneumoniae, M. hominis and M. penetrans in their blood. All Gulf War veterans with ALS were positive for M. fermentans, except one that was positive for M. genitalium. In contrast, the 22/28 civilians with detectable mycoplasmal infections had M. fermentans (13/22, 59%) as well as other Mycoplasama species in their blood, and two of the civilian ALS patients had multiple mycoplasma species (M. fermentans plus M. hominis). Of the few control patients that were positive, only two patients (2/70, 2.8%) were positive for M. fermentans (P<0.001). The results support the suggestion that infectious agents may play a role in the pathogenesis and/or progression of ALS, or alternatively ALS patients are extremely susceptible to systemic mycoplasmal infections.” High frequency of systemic mycoplasmal infections in Gulf War veterans and civilians with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Several conventional claims regarding Gulf War Syndrome are criticized: that Gulf War veterans are no sicker than the civilian population as a whole; that Gulf War Syndrome is a myth invented by the press; that GWS cannot be defined as a legitimate medical syndrome; that since its cause cannot be determined, it is not a problem associated with Operation 'Desert Storm'; that the US and UK governments are doing all they can to investigate and treat illness in veterans or deny existence of over 100,000 cases in veterans and their families; that GWS will settle without treatment; that the armed forces were well prepared for integrated conflict involving chemical and biological warfare in the Middle East, increasing the risk of this in the future."

There are many facets to this syndrome. Carrying Infectious components is only one facet. If your weakness runs in your family it probably is genetic therefore your hormones are out of balance. Your hormones get out of balance from a physical trauma as well, ie, whiplash. See below for clarification. Additionally there are specific and unique etiologies as well as nutritional deficiencies. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia are complex diseases that involve multi-system disturbances and abnormalities. Because of this complexity, these conditions have been poorly treated by the current medical system in this country. These conditions do not lend themselves to be successfully treated with the eight to fifteen minute visits that address only a portion of the wide spectrum of underlying dysfunctions. Through a more detailed evaluation, all identifiable etiologies contributing to the symptomatology may be appropriately addressed, and when multifaceted treatment is instituted that addresses the entire spectrum of these diseases, truly remarkable success and total cures can be obtained. In general, successful treatment can be viewed in components. Treatment needs to be individualized, components may occur in different order and multiple components are often addressed simultaneously, but these can be broken down as follows. ---------------------------
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Component
Four: Treat the infectious components
There are multiple infections that either may be the cause of CFIDS/FM or contribute to the dysfunction. Because of the immune dysfunctions, there is often more than one infection that must be addressed. Potential pathogens include a variety of viruses such as Epstein Barr (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6), Enteroviruses, such as Coxsackie, Echo, and Stealth virus. Bacterial infections include intracellular organisms such as Mycoplasma, Chlamydia pneumonia, Borrelia Burgdorferi (Lyme Disease) and Ehrlichia. A number of yeasts such as Candida and parasites must also be evaluated. Infections with many of the above organisms will also further suppress the immunity, often resulting in further infections with other organisms. Thus, many organisms must be evaluated and treated along with an assessment and treatment of the immune system. If a poor immune system is not addressed, successful eradication of the organisms is not likely, even with the most potent treatments. Treatment may be administered with oral medications or via an intravenous route. A combination of IV and oral medication in conjunction with immune modulation is extremely powerful. ……………………….
If you only treat the one facet of this syndrome, you will still be sick. Like a car that has flat tires, a dead starter and a blown transmission, you must fix all facets at once to get the car going. The sad thing is that a car has a better change of getting “well” as usually ONE mechanic oversees the project, taking a holistic view. We have been trained to go to 10-20 specialists and NO-One ever takes the holistic approach. Thus, we are sick and we stay sick.

The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1041, USA.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of different mycoplasmal species in blood samples from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia syndrome. Previously, more than 60% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia syndrome were found to have mycoplasmal blood infections, such as Mycoplasma fermentans infection. In this study, patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia syndrome were examined for multiple mycoplasmal infections in their blood. A total of 91 patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia syndrome and with a positive test for any mycoplasmal infection were investigated for the presence of Mycoplasma fermentans, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma penetrans in blood using forensic polymerase chain reaction. Among these mycoplasma-positive patients, infections were detected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (54/91), Mycoplasma fermentans (44/91), Mycoplasma hominis (28/91) and Mycoplasma penetrans (18/91). Multiple mycoplasmal infections were found in 48 of 91 patients, with double infections being detected in 30.8% and triple infections in 22%, but only when one of the species was Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Mycoplasma fermentans. Patients infected with more than one mycoplasmal species generally had a longer history of illness, suggesting that they may have contracted additional mycoplasmal infections with time."

As far as the inectious agents go, the fibro center found that I have have 24X times the normal amount of mycoplasms and am currently being treated for it , as well as having Epstein Barr and a trace of Lyme.

drea 69- Thank you for the website http://www.immed.org/index.htm . Did you visit the site? It is absolutely amazing. This mycoplasm stuff is powerful and is contagious. It is suspected that Lupus is from a mycoplasm infection............... Read the FAQ section.

Hi JJ1,
There are many diiferent standards in reading lab results. Each lab has their own criteria, each state has their criteria and the Center for Disease Control has their standards. The routine lab tests are not conclusive (same deal with Thyroid testing) therefore many people think they have no problems. Lyme is one of the common co-existing infections with fibro. There are about 15 different bands that are tested for Lyme. These bands are seperated into 3 groups. Some labs state that if you have 2 bands in one group that is positive then you have Lyme. The Center for Disease control states an entirely different configuration, maybe 1 + in two groups. The states also has criteria that is different. The fibro center looks at the CDC criteria, 2 different lab's criteria-one being much more senstive than the other, the state's criteria and the criteria that the Fibro Center has. I had a few + 's in a few bands but didn't match any of the above criteria -so I can up negative by those standards. The Fibro center feels if I have any +'s, then I am positive. I don't recall ever getting bitten by anything. The bacterial infections of FMS are closely related to the bacterial infections of lyme, alot of the time co-existing and patients never know as standard tests do not show this. If someone has a few +'s then they have been exposed to Lyme. Mine is chronic as I have had it along time. I would have never known about any of these infections if it wasn't for the Fibro and Fatigue centers. It does make sense though.

Larry; There are a few species of mycoplasma that are commensal or normally found in human tissue. I asked if you had horses because of the Lyme and the high load of mycoplasma that was found in your labs.

Lyme disease is normally found by doing an ELISA test. Larry has a mildly positive test. "There are three types of antibody tests to detect Lyme disease.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This common and rapid test to detect Lyme disease antibodies is considered the most sensitive screening test for Lyme disease.
Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA). This test also screens for Lyme disease antibodies, but it may produce false results more often than ELISA.
Western blot test. This test also detects Lyme disease antibodies and can confirm the results of an ELISA or IFA test. It is most often done to detect a chronic Lyme disease infection. "
http://www.webmd.c
om/hw/arthritis/hw5113.asp

I can see how the mycoplasma infection could be the cause of some but not all Fibromyalgia cases. What about ones that were triggered by a car accident or other stressful event? I guess that is why they found them in only 60% of fibromyalgia patients who were screened. It sounds like it is significant enough that we all should be tested for mycoplasma. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be treated and cured by taking an antibiotic! It is my understanding that antibiotics are also the course of action for Lyme disease infections. I have mentioned before that I have an acquaintance who has a serioius Lyme disease case, where it is completely debilitating -- she is a vet and has had to alter her practice to just cats because she is too weak to handle dogs. She thinks that the number of people infected with Lyme is very high but very few suffer serious enough symptoms to be tested and detected. She keeps telling me I should be tested for Lyme. I don't believe my doctors have dont this. I have a pile of information I plan to discuss with my rheumatologist when I see her next in March (and should also know the results of the celiac disease testing by then).

If Lyme testing is done,, standard tests will miss over 90% of cases of chronic Lyme disease. The standard tests include an immunoassay test of IgG and IgM antibodies and a Western blot for confirmation. The problem with these tests is that they are designed to detect acute Lyme disease and are very poor at detecting chronic Lyme disease. In addition, doctors (infectious disease, internists, family practice, etc.) most often use the Center for Disease Control (CDC) criteria to define a positive test. This criterion was never meant to be used for diagnosis, but rather for epidemiological surveillance (tracking data).

If one uses an expanded Western blot with revised requirement criteria for diagnosis, studies have demonstrated an improved sensitivity of detection of over 90% while having a low false-positive rate of less than 3%. To adequately detect and treat chronic Lyme disease, Physicians must understand that standard tests will miss the majority of these cases and standard treatment will fail the majority of the time. One must undergo more specialized testing and a multi-system integrative treatment approach to achieve success in the majority of patients.

JJ1, take a look at the thread about the six components. This should help clarify things. Almost all fibro patients have thyroid and other gland imbalances due to trauma, physical and emotional, stress, viruses or bacteria infections as well as nutritional defiecencies.